Walking appliance



June 16,1953 HQL. PEDLEY Em wALxlNG APPLIANCE Filed Apri1,16, 1949 e im Patented June 16,1953 T WALKING APPLIANCE Howard L. realey, Hilda dreamy, and `carl E.

v Balluft, Des Plaines, Ill.

Application April 16, 1949, seria1 No. 87,942

3 Claims. (Cl. 1135-45) This invention relates lto appliances for assisting invalids and others in walking. One of the objects of our invention is the provision of anappliance to assist persons in various stages of physical recovery in walking, which will eliminate fear and create confidence inthe user and through the use of which they may propel themselves withfaeility and with a minimum of eiiort. A Another object of of an appliance of the foregoing our invention is the provision character which hassa relatively wide-cushioning bearing area,

which is efficient to prevent slipping and which is light vinw'eLght and rigid and substantial in construction.A

A further object of our invention is the provision of" an appliance ofthe character described whichv is adjustable to meet the requirements of users of diierent heights. J

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts with- 'out departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi a. preferred embodiment of our invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view partly in cross section showing certain structural details.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of our invention in collapsed or folded condition.

Figure 5 is asimilar view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing the same in extended or ready to use position.

' Referring particularly to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, our improved appliance comprises a tubular body section I0 to which is attached a hand grip II. Telescopeol within the tubular section I0 is a tubular shank I2 the bottom end of which is connected as by welding to a triangularly shaped base member I3. As will be seen in Fig. v1 the base member I3 is preferably in the shape of an isosceles triangle and the shank I2 is joined to the side I4 which constitutes the base of the triangle and which is disposed substantially in the same plane as the handle II, the joint being 2 located at a point substantially medially of the length of side I4.`

A plurality of bracing struts I6 welded to the shank I2 radiate therefrom in a downwardly inclined direction and are joined to the corners of the triangular base member I3 as by welding, thereby providing a structure of substantial rigidity.

Suitable resilient anti-slipping means here in the form of a hollow rubber tubularstructure Il 'is attached to the underside ofthe base I3 in a suitable manner as by screws I8. It will be understood that the said means may be of any suitable form or material and may be detached from the base I3 for replacement when worn out.

The tubular section I0 is perforated to receive a screw I3 which is passed through one of the series of perforations 2I in the shank I2. It will be readily understood from the above description that the hand grip II may be raised or lowered to conform to the arm length of the user and also that the hand grip II is always caused to be in alinement with the side I4 of the base I3 in any position of adjustment. Y

In the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the base includes a tubular'section 22 welded to the shank. 23 and braced by struts 30, and a substantially V-shaped member 24 having inturned ends terminating in cylindrical portions 26 which are Vreceivable in the open ends of the tubular section 22. The V-shaped member 24 is pivotable about the axis of the section 22 and may be swung either to the collapsed positionA shown in Fig. 4 for storage or to the extended position shown in Fig. 5, for use.

. It will be seen that the V-shaped member 2d in combination with the tubular section 22 provides a triangularly shaped base similar in form to that shown in Fig. 1. Mounted at the apex of the triangular base'are a pair of spaced perforated lugs 21 between which is pivotably secured a rod 28, which serves as a bracing strut.

A slidable clamp embracing the shank 23 is pivotally connected to the other end of the rod 28 and is providedwith a thumb screw '3I for securing the base 24 in any position of adjustment.

v The base 24 is also provided with a resilient anti-slipping means and the shank and hand grip of this modified embodiment are identical in structure with corresponding elements hereinabove described.

In use two of the appliances are employed, the user walking between the appliances with the triangular Vbases directed outwardly.

While the oor engaging portions or bearing areas of the devices herein shown and described are substantially triangular in form, it is to be understood that the particular form is merely illustrative of one embodiment of our invention and that the bearing area may be of any suitable continuous form such as a quadrilateral, polygon, or sector or secant of a circle. Manifestly the invention as described is susceptible of modication without'departing from the inventive concept.

It Will be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided an appliance to assist a user in Walking, in which the oor engaging portion is in the form of a continuous triangle so as to provide adequate support to the user when `walking up or down stair steps, or in Walking on uneven surfaces or soft ground. The appliance is rigidly braced to give a user condence in walking during an early stage of physical recovery while providing a relatively large bearing area is of suiciently small dimensions to permit a user to pass through a conventional doorway.

We claim:

1. An appliance of the character described comprising an upright member having a hand grip thereon, a transverse member having open ends and Xed to the lower end of said upright member, a substantially V-shaped member having inturned ends received in said open ends so as to be pivotally associated with said transverse member and forming therewith a substantially triangular base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, and means for selectively securing said V-shaped memberin extended position to rest 3 on a supporting surface or in collapsed position.

2. An appliance of the character described comprising .an upright member having a hand grip thereon, a transverse member having open .4 ends and fixed to the lower end of said upright member, a substantially V-shaped member having inturned ends received in said open ends so as to be pivotally associated with said transverse member and forming therewith a substantially triangular base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, and a strut member associated with said upright member and said V-shaped member for securing saidV V-shaped member in extended position to rest on a Vsupporting surface or in collapsed position.

3. An appliance of the character described comprising an upright having a hand grip thereon, a transverse member xed medially thereof to the lower end of said upright member and being in .the same vertical plane with the upright member, a ysubstantially V-shaped member pivotally associated with said transverse member and forming therewith a substantially triangular base at the side of said upright member adapted to rest on a supporting surface, a strut pivotally connected to said upright member and toA the apex of said V-shaped member for selectively securing said V-shaped member in extended position to rest on a supporting surface or in aV collapsed position substantially vertically adjacent said upright.

HOWARD L. P'EDLEY. HILDA C. PEDLEY. CARL E. BALLUFF.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,566,359 Witkowski Dec. 22, 1925 1,802,323 Aulmann Apr. 28, 1931 2,189,429 Lundquist Feb. 6, 1940 2,195,034 Miller Mar. 26, 1940 

